Who is cleaning poop?

Nurses General Nursing

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I have am just concluded all my general ed, and am starting to focus on a major. Nursing holds much appeal for me, but I am interested in finding out - do the RNs do clean up work? I have been told that they generally do assessments, administer medication and act as patient advocates. I hope this question doesn't sound stupid - but I really would like to know what the different levels of responsibility are before I get too far into it. Any insight is appreciated. :confused:

:confused:

I have am just concluded all my general ed, and am starting to focus on a major. Nursing holds much appeal for me, but I am interested in finding out - do the RNs do clean up work? I have been told that they generally do assessments, administer medication and act as patient advocates. I hope this question doesn't sound stupid - but I really would like to know what the different levels of responsibility are before I get too far into it. Any insight is appreciated. :confused:

:confused:

Be prepared to clean-up poop, vomit, bile, blood, urine, sputum, amniotic fluid, draining wounds, .... Occasionally, the stuff gets splashed, wiped, and projected on you. It's all smelly and gross. But, for some strange reason it doesn't bother me. Most nurses get immune to it after while.

Don't think that because you are an RN, you won't have to deal with the stuff!

Be prepared to clean-up poop, vomit, bile, blood, urine, sputum, amniotic fluid, draining wounds, .... Occasionally, the stuff gets splashed, wiped, and projected on you. It's all smelly and gross. But, for some strange reason it doesn't bother me. Most nurses get immune to it after while.

Don't think that because you are an RN, you won't have to deal with the stuff!

Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.

Yep, clean it up and then go have sweet potato casserole for lunch and not think twice about it!

Don't let anyone tell you that ANYONE is too good to care for their patients. It's our job, it's what we DO.

Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.

Yep, clean it up and then go have sweet potato casserole for lunch and not think twice about it!

Don't let anyone tell you that ANYONE is too good to care for their patients. It's our job, it's what we DO.

Oh Yes, Along with all those nasty body fluids, be prepared to be punched,kicked,slapped,pinched in some very sensitive areas and called names that would make your mother pass out!(and that treatment is not always from the patients) But really it is geat being a Nurse and I am Darn good at it!

By the way Donada, you might benefit from "shadowing" an RN over several days, to get a "feel" for the field. Good Luck...imaRN

Oh Yes, Along with all those nasty body fluids, be prepared to be punched,kicked,slapped,pinched in some very sensitive areas and called names that would make your mother pass out!(and that treatment is not always from the patients) But really it is geat being a Nurse and I am Darn good at it!

By the way Donada, you might benefit from "shadowing" an RN over several days, to get a "feel" for the field. Good Luck...imaRN

Wow! You all make it sound so glamorous! (he-he). No kidding - I know it is hard work. Shadowing an RN is a great idea for me, thank you imaRN - I will call about it tomorrow. Until then, I appreciate all the input I can get. I'm nervous as a kitty in a mine field! :D

Wow! You all make it sound so glamorous! (he-he). No kidding - I know it is hard work. Shadowing an RN is a great idea for me, thank you imaRN - I will call about it tomorrow. Until then, I appreciate all the input I can get. I'm nervous as a kitty in a mine field! :D

yeah you have to get your hands (& your uniform) dirty - you dont just order someone else to do it.

You get to handle all the parts of the body & all the fluids & stuff that go with it. Then you get to measure it, describe it & record it before you clean it up. Thats why they make those nice little gloves for us & those masks with the plastic eye shield protectors.

Heres a couple of hints:

If you have a pt with a GI bleed, keep your masks handy & wear a disposable cover over your uniform.

Masks also come in handy for when you have pts with bugs like C.diff, MRSA, or pseudomonas.

If you are intubating a pt, have the suction ready & stand back.

If you are inserting an NG tube, keep the outside end clamped or stand back

When you are giving someone charcoal for his OD, just stand back.

If youve given a pt kaexylate for his high K+ level, or lactulose for his high ammonia level, watch where you step around that bedside.

Keep the room windows closd - especially in warm weather..... unless you'd like the experience of utilizing maggots for wound care or suctioning them out of pts ETT tubes.

(after that one, our hospital had the fire dept bolt all the windows shut!)

yeah you have to get your hands (& your uniform) dirty - you dont just order someone else to do it.

You get to handle all the parts of the body & all the fluids & stuff that go with it. Then you get to measure it, describe it & record it before you clean it up. Thats why they make those nice little gloves for us & those masks with the plastic eye shield protectors.

Heres a couple of hints:

If you have a pt with a GI bleed, keep your masks handy & wear a disposable cover over your uniform.

Masks also come in handy for when you have pts with bugs like C.diff, MRSA, or pseudomonas.

If you are intubating a pt, have the suction ready & stand back.

If you are inserting an NG tube, keep the outside end clamped or stand back

When you are giving someone charcoal for his OD, just stand back.

If youve given a pt kaexylate for his high K+ level, or lactulose for his high ammonia level, watch where you step around that bedside.

Keep the room windows closd - especially in warm weather..... unless you'd like the experience of utilizing maggots for wound care or suctioning them out of pts ETT tubes.

(after that one, our hospital had the fire dept bolt all the windows shut!)

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